Pop-Culturalist.com

Anneliese Judge is a fresh face in Hollywood who’s ready to make her mark on the industry. This spring, she made her television debut in the must-see new Netflix series Sweet Magnolias, in which she plays Annie Sullivan, a young girl trying to discover who she is in the world.

Set in a small town in South Carolina, Sweet Magnolias follows the lives of three childhood best friends and their children as they navigate the trials and tribulations of life.

Pop Culturalist spoke with rising star Anneliese Judge about her role and the series.

Career

PC: How did you discover your passion for acting?
Anneliese: I discovered it after my first acting class. Drew Matthews, my teacher still to this day, has this phenomenal charisma and energy. The way he teaches is something I wish everyone could experience. He’s the driving force behind my passion for acting and why I fell in love with it so much.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Anneliese: Sandra Oh and Jennifer Aniston are two actresses that I really look up to. They’re both so successful, very humble, and giving. I also admire their lifestyle, fashion, and beauty. Skincare is something I’m very passionate about, and they are both so youthful and vibrant. They’re definitely two people that I really look up to and strive to be like.

Sweet Magnolias

PC: Tell us about Sweet Magnolias, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Anneliese: The show is about three moms who are childhood best friends as they navigate their own lives, run a business together, and raise their kids. The show also follows their kids, Annie Sullivan, who I play, and Ty and Kyle Townsend. We get to explore so much between all of the characters, all their struggles, and the things that they go through throughout the season. It’s a very relatable show and very real.

Annie Sullivan is fifteen-years-old and a sophomore in high school. She’s a small-town girl with a big world mentality; she can’t wait to escape and travel. She feels like she’s outgrown Serenity, South Carolina. She shows that through her passion for photography. She’s a girl who’s trying to find herself while balancing school, work, and her social life.

I was drawn to this project because of the character. Annie Sullivan is so much like me and I feel like we share so many of the same passions for art and the world. She really stuck out to me as somebody that I could enjoy playing.

PC: Which of Annie’s relationships was your favorite to explore in Season 1 and why?
Anneliese: Definitely her relationship with her mother, Dana Sue. Annie struggles with the split between her parents. They’re separated, which is something that’s really hard for Annie, and she takes that anger and bitterness out on her mom, but you see their relationship grow and develop throughout the season. It’s really beautiful. That’s something that I really enjoyed exploring with Brooke Elliot.

PC: This is your television debut. What was the biggest lesson you learned on set?
Anneliese: To be present in the moment: that’s one of the most important lessons that I’ve learned. The more mindful you are, the more in tune you will be with your body, emotions, and thoughts. It’s important to enjoy what you’re doing in the moment and show up fully. That’s something that I always knew to do but I feel like I explored and learned so much more about that.

PC: With the series out now, what do you hope audiences take away?
Anneliese: There are honestly so many lessons I feel like people can learn from the different characters. I’m hoping that Annie will remind a lot of viewers of the great friends that they grew up with or that they still have now. Also, I hope the show inspires younger viewers that even while you’re growing up, you can make your mark and help change things for the better.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Anneliese: Gossip Girl—I love Gossip Girl. Norman Buckley actually directed some episodes of our show, too!

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Anneliese: Someone Great on Netflix. That is such a good movie. It’s so feel-good.

PC: Favorite book?
Anneliese: Regretting You by Colleen Hoover is a really awesome book—definitely one that I would recommend.

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Anneliese: I love Frank Ocean. Frank Ocean, Kehlani, and Roddy Ricch. Those might be surprising…or Brock Hampton.

To keep up with Anneliese, follow her on Twitter and Instagram. Catch the first season of Sweet Magnolias on Netflix today.

Photo Credit: Eliza Morse/Netflix